A new wave of national data is putting a spotlight on a critical problem already felt across hospitals, clinics, and emergency departments: the prior authorization burden is now one of the leading contributors to treatment delays and physician burnout in the United States.
The 2025 AMA national survey revealed findings that alarmed both clinicians and policymakers:
- 93% of physicians reported that prior authorization delays patient care.
- 89% said the process contributes directly to burnout.
These numbers expose a system where administrative bottlenecks are not just an inconvenience — they are actively undermining patient care.
The Hidden Crisis: When Administrative Delays Become Clinical Emergencies
Physicians report spending hours each week fighting through insurer requirements, document requests, and repetitive approvals. For many hospital-based and specialty clinicians, the prior authorization burden has become a disruptive force in daily workflow.
When treatments stall in approval queues, conditions can worsen, medications go unfilled, and patients lose trust in their providers. In several cases documented by national medical associations, delayed approvals have led to deterioration of chronic conditions, abandoned therapy plans, and extended hospital stays.
Burnout at a Breaking Point
The administrative strain is pushing physicians across every specialty to the edge.
Clinicians say that the prior authorization burden often requires hours of non-clinical work — work that cuts directly into patient time, recovery, academic responsibilities, and family life.
Many physicians describe the process as “a constant battle,” “nonstop obstacles,” and “a system built to exhaust clinicians into giving up on necessary treatments.”
Burnout is now closely tied to:
- EHR documentation overload
- Prior authorization escalation
- Increasing utilization review requirements
- Shortages of support staff
- Rising patient complexity
Why the Prior Authorization Burden Keeps Growing
Despite digital tools, automation, and EHR modernization, prior authorization requirements have expanded in 2025. More medications, diagnostic imaging, and procedures are subject to review than ever before.
Key factors fueling the expansion:
- Lack of standardization across insurers
- Increased payer scrutiny of costlier treatments
- Growth in specialty medications
- Inconsistent electronic workflows
- Fragmented documentation systems
Innovation and Reform: A Glimpse of Hope for 2026
Industry leaders are calling for urgent reform — and some progress is emerging.
- Standardized Electronic Prior Authorization (ePA) – New ePA systems are improving turnaround times and reducing errors.
- AI-Driven Administrative Automation – AI tools can autopopulate forms, identify missing documentation, and reduce manual entry.
- Legislative Push for Timely Responses – Several states have introduced “gold carding” policies that waive PA requirements for physicians with a history of consistent approvals.
- Stronger Transparency Requirements – Medical associations are advocating for public reporting of payer denial rates to hold insurers accountable.
For clinicians interested in verified data and national tracking, the AMA provides a reliable resource hub here.
What This Means for Physicians at Stanford and Nationwide
Stanford clinicians — especially those handling high-acuity care and complex cases — continue to feel the weight of administrative tasks overshadowing clinical judgment.
Reducing the prior authorization burden is essential to:
- Protect patient safety
- Improve physician well-being
- Support care coordination
- Reduce treatment abandonment
- Strengthen trust in the healthcare system
The 2025 data makes one thing clear: the prior authorization burden is now a national patient safety issue, not just an administrative one.
Meaningful reform will require cooperation between insurers, clinicians, lawmakers, and health systems — but early signs of electronic streamlining and policy momentum offer hope.
Stanford Physician Advocate will continue monitoring these developments and advocating for solutions that prioritize patients, empower physicians, and protect the integrity of medical decision-making.
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